The Search

Released Mar 26, 1948

1h 45m

Drama

List

100%

Tomatometer

9 Reviews

92%

Audience Score

500+ Ratings

After surviving a Nazi concentration camp in Germany, Karel (Ivan Jandl), a young Czech boy, is determined to reunite with his mother, Hannah (Jarmila Novotna), holding out hope that she is still alive. Karel is befriended by an American soldier, Ralph Stevenson (Montgomery Clift), who teaches him English phrases and even considers bringing him back to the United States. However, nothing can deter Karel from looking for Hannah, who is also desperately searching for him.

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Trevor Johnston

Time Out

Although there's a slight suspicion that (as in Rossellini's work from this period) the plight of children is being used as a sort of emotional shorthand, the integrity and moving effect of this piece is never really in doubt.

Feb 9, 2006

Full Review

Bosley Crowther

New York Times

The Search, in our estimation, is a major revelation in our times.

Rated: 5/5

May 20, 2003

Full Review

Dilys Powell

Sunday Times (UK)

Mr Clift’s portrayal of the nonchalant American, bewildered by the little boy’s terror, at his wits’ end to persuade him to speak... is something not to miss.

Oct 3, 2023

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

A moving wartime drama about orphaned children that's directed in a simple semi-documentary style.

Rated: B

May 13, 2008

Full Review

TV Guide

Zinnemann and Clift received Oscar nominations and Jandl won a special juvenile Oscar for his haunting portrayal of the tragic child.

Rated: 4/4

Nov 1, 2007

Full Review

Nick Davis

Nick's Flick Picks

Both a well-modulated immersion in the experience of stunned and stranded children and a time-capsule of the scarred land and crumbled cityscapes of Germany after the war.

Rated: B+

Oct 18, 2007

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Peter G

The first Hollywood film made in post war Germany & as affecting & moving as the first time I saw it. A mother searching for her little son after having been separated during WW 2. The images of the war's aftermath are still vivid as the project was shot on actual locations around Ingolstadt & have a documentary immediacy which adds to the film's impact. This was, I believe, the first of Clift's movies to be released although RED RIVER was actually made prior to it or maybe it was the other way around, I am not certain. His quiet but still potent presence as the GI helping to take care of the boy, who he finds wandering alone, makes a significant impression & brought him his first Oscar nomination. The seeming hopelessness of him working with other officials to locate the boys mother are given in considerably authentic detail. All the other actor's, particularity the child, are spot on & a welcome addition to the cast was Jarmila Novotna as the mother. Aside from being a well known & popular MET soprano at the time she also had considerable acting talent, via Max Reinhardt among others, before coming to the states to continue her operatic work. Some have criticized what they feel are overly sentimental moments but the performer's help to overcome these by their sincere & realistic characterizations. Credit is due director Fred Zinnemann who helps to keep the film continually involving for the viewer.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/27/23

Full Review

steve d

The script isn't good enough to get past the melodrama.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Frances H

A heart wrenching story of the refugee displaced children of the concentration and one little boy in particular, who is looking for his mother while she also looks for him.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/23/20

Full Review

Jared D

Outstanding film debut by Montgomery Clift in this very believable story of a child refugee from Auschwitz. Actually filmed in Germany when it was still really bombed out. Another great film about Europe and WWII from Fred Zinnemann!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/18/18

Full Review

s r

Shows the complex suffering of the children post wwii. The dialogue was a bit fake, but the film still made you feel good and hopeful in the end.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It holds a strong impact due to its devastating subject matter, with also a beautiful score and Montgomery Clift in a wonderful Oscar-nominated performance, but it starts to become more like a melodrama after its excellent first hour and the dialogue more and more artificial.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

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Fred Zinnemann

Director

Montgomery Clift

Ralph Stevenson

Ivan Jandl

Karel Malik

Aline MacMahon

Mrs. Murray

Jarmila Novotna

Mrs. Malik

Wendell Corey

Jerry Fisher

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Synopsis

After surviving a Nazi concentration camp in Germany, Karel (Ivan Jandl), a young Czech boy, is determined to reunite with his mother, Hannah (Jarmila Novotna), holding out hope that she is still alive. Karel is befriended by an American soldier, Ralph Stevenson (Montgomery Clift), who teaches him English phrases and even considers bringing him back to the United States. However, nothing can deter Karel from looking for Hannah, who is also desperately searching for him.

Director: Fred Zinnemann
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Praesens-Film
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 26, 1948, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 21, 2016
Runtime: 1h 45m

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